FRANCE & BELGIUM

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144778, 7 September 1915, Page 3

FRANCE & BELGIUM

THE DELAYED OFFENSIVE. JUSTIFIED BY ITALIAN GENERAL. TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES. (Received Sept. 7, 8 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 6. Writing in the Preparazione,. the Italian military organ, Colonel Barome, who recently visited General Joffre, says that some people, including General Joffre, think that in the present circumstances a general -offensive on the western front can be delayed without inconvenience, in order that, once begun, it may be carried out thoroughly and without, interruption. There is an impatient minority, including prominent politicians, who believe that it would be better for the offensive to be started immediately. Colonel Barome thinks the former right. Germany, by pushing the advance into Russia, is marching to certain disaster. It would be far better if the Allies were to wait the result of this than to striko. It is from this aspect the French and British commanders regard the situation. The Russian General Staff have probably the same opinion. General Joffre is not asleep and deserves entire confidence. CONTINUED BOMBARDMENT AT NINE POINTS. PARIS, Sept. 6. Except in the Vosges there have not been any infantry actions in fho west for a fortnight, but the Allies have EHvintained constant heavy bombardments in nine well-defined zones, including the Belgian front, Souchez, Arras, Roye, • and the two extremities of. the line of plateaus between Morinvilliers and Souain, and in the Argonne, the Woevre and Lorraine. It has been raining incessantly for forty-eight hours in Northern France, and this has reduced the roads to a quagmire. (Received Sept. 7, 9.55 a.m.) GERMAN BARRACKS BOMBARDED PARIS, Sent. 6. A communique states that French aviators bombarded the barracks at Dieuze and Morhange.